Regional Climate Pact Faces Pressure to Curb Inequity, Emissions

An 11-state cap-and-trade program is under growing pressure to slash even more carbon emissions to ensure communities bearing the brunt of pollution and climate impacts benefit from cleaner air as well as the billions of dollars that the program raises.

The push comes as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, known as RGGI, prepares to launch a full-fledged review of its operations this fall. The review, performed every few years, will guide states as they weigh whether to tighten the overall emissions cap, expand the program, or make other changes.

Environmental justice advocates say one move RGGI should make is to ...